10 May 2016

Food Stuffs

A friend at work asked me where my favorite places were to eat in Utah/SLC Valley. I figured I would post it for other interested parties. After 15 years in Utah, it is about time I settled on my fav's. While this isn't a comprehensive list, its a decent list for the adventurous consumer of calories.

Utah Valley Food Recommendations

Sushi

Asahi

1470 N State St, Orem, UT 84057

Best a la carte sushi in Utah Valley. The service is mixed as they sometimes have just a few staff running tables, but the fish is consistently better than other sushi bars in town. Also this place is open late if you are in the mood for a midnight snack. They also have more traditional Japanese fare than other sushi places around if you are with someone who is keen to more authentic Japanese fare. I feel like I am cool to say that now that I have two Japanese stamps in my passport.

Dishes to order - Leprechaun roll, Dynamite roll, tempura veggies

Sushi House

705 South 500 East, American Fork, UT 84003

If you are in the mood for eating copious amounts of sushi, this is a good bet. Do not be fooled by the Denny’s like ambiance. They have a wide variety of rolls and the fish is pretty good. Don't bother with anything else on the menu. They have especially decent salmon rolls here. Best to go when you have 8+ other people who like to eat sushi and share rolls. Group consumption is almost always the best way to eat sushi.

Dish to get: All you can eat Sushi.

Indian Food

Bombay House

University Ave - Provo

Robert Redford said this was his favorite Utah restaurant. There is a good reason why.

Dishes to order: Lamb Saag, Chicken Coconut Korma, Tikka Masala curries (do not get this confused with the Chicken tikka, which is good but not the same)

*Don't go to this place on Friday/Saturday night or you will inevitably fight the crowds. Ordering out is a good way to go. Call 25 minutes ahead and they will have anything you want ready to go.

India Palace

100 W Center St - Provo

Just a small step down from Bombay House quality, but less crowded and the proprietor Amrik is the man. He once literally delivered Indian food to my apartment doorstep because my deathly ill friend asked him to. He won my heart and my stomach with his 'all the rice you can eat' policy that even extends to filling up your rice dish so you can fill up your take home box. Best lunch buffet in the valley M-Th 11-2PM. My friends and I have certainly funded his 401k single-handedly over the years. I kid you not when I say I have spent hundred of dollars here. Worth every penny.

Dishes to order: Chicken Makanwala, Paneer Masala, Chicken saag

*Note - they opened a location in South Jordan that is just as good.

Mexican Food - Tacos

Brasas Tacos

2448 N University Pkwy, Provo, UT 84604

Best tacos in Utah Valley. Two locations to choose from, but the north Provo one is the best one by far. Best avocado sauce in the valley (free at the salsa bar).

Dishes to get: Carne aside tacos, mulitas

Mexican Food Dine-In

Maria Bonitas

171 W 800 N, Orem, UT 84057

Fast service and super friendly staff. The food is pretty good and there is quite a variety. Somewhat on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for. Best horchata around. Also if you are with family/friends who are willing to go sweet, order a Strawberry colada. It is a party in your mouth. House salsa is decent and gratis. The best part of this place though is when Maria comes and gives you a hug and calls you 'mis champions.' I swear the woman is ADHD, but turns out it makes a great server!

Dishes to order: Enchiladas poblanos, Fajitas, sugary bebidas

*Note - super busy on Friday/Saturday nights. Saturday lunch is the optimal time to go to avoid crowds. A bit on the expensive side since they upgraded their facilities.

Thai Food

Thai Village

208 W Main St, American Fork, UT 84003

Quiet little house that is converted into a Thai restaurant. Generally very quiet but not many frills. Open late 10PM.

Dishes to order: Curries are generally the way to go here. Red or green curry is the best depending how much spice you life. A lot of people also like the chili chicken or the Pad thai, but I would stick with curries. Good vegetables.

Thai Drift

1655 N State St, Orem, UT 84057

This place is not much different than other thai places except it is usually clean and well kept. The one major difference is they have the best panang curry around. If you do not like that dish, this place is decent but not a standout otherwise. Their veggies are good and the portions are fair enough.

Dish: Panang Curry (their pumpkin curry isn't too bad either)

Other Tasty Ethnic Food

Hruskas

400ish Center St Provo (across the street from the Covey Center)

This place serves Kolaches. Sweet and savory types, but this is considered a breakfast place.

If you don't know what that is, ask any Texan or Czech. They are basically a delicious filled bread. This place is packed around 730-9AM but they make everything fresh each day and close when they run out. This place is very unique, and super tasty. No tables inside so order to go or sit outside with the rest of the bums on Center street.

Things to order: Any fruit kolache, (if they have peach you are in for a special treat), get the kolache with cream cheese if you can, any egg kolache Ive have there is tasty, sausage and gravy is stick to your ribs tasty but heavy.

Bruges Waffles & Sandwiches

50ish Center St Provo 84606

This place was open in SLC for years and they finally expanded. Best beligan waffle in Utah. Get one with chocolate baked in. They have decent fries as well with lots of fun dipping sauces (which is very common in Belgium). If you have a teenage boy who has high metabolsim, tell him to get the Machine Gun and watch the messiest meal to ever grace his hands/lips

Dish to get: Waffle with cream and raspberries (chocolate baked in of course) with speculous (you will thank me later). Samurai dipping sauce is pretty tasty for fries.

American Food

Chubby's

336 S Main St, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062

All around great food. Heavy food, but super tasty. Their buns are homemade and delicious so whether you get a chicken sandwich or burger it will still be top notch. Their beer-battered fries are the best french fries in Utah Valley. I may or may not have fallen in love with a girl while eating them. They make a decent gluten-free bun if your friends have food allergies. They are also one of the two best Southern food restaurants in the valley so consider this if you want cajun dishes. They also have salads if not everyone you are eating with wants to go into calorie coma afterwards

This place just does lunch, but it is a decent sandwich shop. Sweet potato fries are the best part.

Bam Bam’s Barbecue

1708 S State St, Orem, UT 84058

Best beef in the valley. I have never had anything here I didn't like. Every once in a while the proprietor will have a sale of wagu beef brisket that is melt in your mouth. Authentic Texan barbecue with proper sauces and sides.

Dishes to order: meat.

Craving's Bistro

25 W Center St, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062

This place does Grilled Cheese. Well it does salads too, but if you are going out for a salad, you either need to go to Zupa's or seriously evaluate your life. This place is loaded with cheesy goodness, but I suggest you bookend this meal with foods high in fiber. You have been warned.

Dishes to order - French toast (2 pieces is a full meal), omelettes are top notch, get the home fries as a side.

Sugary Treats

Eliane French Bakery

1750 S State St, Orem

Authentic french bakery. If you are into pastries, this is the place for you. The one downside is that they close early (6PM so either pick something up on the way home or forget it).

People rave about their chocolate cigars, but the Napoleons are the surest bet.

Porters Place

4 W Main St, Lehi, UT 84043

Cool rustic ambience. This place is located a stones cast from where Porter Rockwell lived and just down the street where he killed a man who unloaded two handguns on him (and missed).

The food isn't bad, but its not anything to write home about. The sugary soda drinks on the other hand are the thing to get here. They have specialty drink list that is more than a dozen deep with some very cool combinations. A few of them do not have dairy if you have allergies, and most of them are carbonated.

Drinks to try: Skull Valley, Diamond Lil

The Chocolate - Dessert Cafe

212 S State St, Orem, UT 84058

Only sweet things here. Come here to try some quality cakes. Be warned, there are better places for cup-cakes though. Women with a sweet tooth will be in heaven after a slice of cake or splitting a Cazookie. Diabetics will be on their way to heaven after more than two bites as everything here is pretty rich. They have decent cookies as well if you are not into cake, but the best I've tried are the seasonal ones.

Lone Star Taco - best taco shop in Utah. Order the adobado or carne desperada. They also have proper fish dishes that taste like you are on a beach instead of the rocky mountains. Watch out, their burritos are the size of a small child. Go hungry.

2265 Fort Union Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84121

Settebello Pizza - best pizza in the state. Thin crust napoletana style. Tastes almost as good as it does in Italy.

260 South 200 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Pirate O’s - my favorite of all deli's and cheese closet (besides Tony Caputtos) in all of SLC/Utah Valley. They only serve lunch except on Fridays/Sat till 6PM. Go inside and turn to the left, the deli is in the corner. Their grilled panini’s are divine. Don’t be fooled by the nonchalant exterior. This place is magical.

11901 S 700 E, Draper, UT 84020

**Disclaimer - these places are even tastier when you invite me along to come with you.